"Who for the joy set before him". here was the secret of the Saviour's support under the protracted sorrow of His way: let us endeavour to learn it— the " weight of glory" realized can help us to estimate all present griefs as "light, and but for a moment;"-the joy of the coming morning can sustain amidst the tedious hours of the night of weeping.

SOURCES OF CONSOLATION PECULIAR TO THE CHRISTIAN MOURNER.

O we now enquire what special sources of consolation the Christian mourner possesses? truly we may assert they are abundant, more than sufficient to all his need, for our God affords them "according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Where shall we begin the enumeration, or how conclude?—here lies the difficulty.

The character of Him who appoints our trials is perhaps the first source of comfort on which the mind should dwell: "my times are in Thy hands ;"-here lies the Christian's main stay and prop in every season of affliction: whatever be smitten -whatever be threatened, Thy hands, the wise, tender, merciful, loving, faithful hands of a gracious Father, one who knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust. His very name forbids the

possibility of His inflicting one unnecessary pang, or protracting our trials one moment beyond the period which is indispensable: the God of love does not, cannot willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. Then again His wisdom guards against the apprehension of mistake in the arrangements of His providence: the earthly father may, with a heart overflowing with parental love, err in the treatment of his child, may prove too lenient or too strict, hold the reins too tight, or relax them too much, apply the rod where loving expostulation would effect more, or withhold it where it would best serve the designed end: whilst all the affection which the earthly relationship involves is but the faintest shadow of what dwells in the breast of our heavenly Father.

He is infinite in wisdom, wonderful in counsel, excellent in working; He cannot err, cannot mistake; must always propose the wisest end, and secure its accomplishment by the choice of the wisest means.

What a relief to the burdened heart to realize this truth, "my trial, with every circumstance connected with it, is appointed by an infinitely-wise Father, and must therefore be just the trial of all others best calculated to benefit me, and bring glory to Him." And then to remember He is almighty, as well as all-wise, all events are under His controul, all creatures at the disposal of the "God of the spirits of all flesh." Consequently nothing can arise unforeseen by Him, nothing occurs, however brought about by human corruption, or inprudence, or neglect, that He cannot overrule: The very "wrath of man" He makes "to praise Him;" the "remainder thereof" He has promised to 66 restrain." O may our hearts rest in the perfection of the character of our covenant God in every hour of trial or apprehension: the effulgence of its brightness can irradiate the deepest gloom, and furnish us with "songs in the night," whatever be the source of our grief or disquietude.

"My times are in Thy hands"-blessed, soul-sustaining thought,—there would we desire to leave them, gracious Lord, assured that Thou doest all things well, and that what Thou appointest must be best. True it is "clouds and darkness are round about Thee ""Thy judgments are a great deep," and we must inscribe on many of Thy footsteps "past finding out;" but we can trust Thee, where we cannot trace Thee, and we hope ere long in the better light of brighter scenes to strike our harps to the song of Moses and of the Lamb. "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy-Thy judgments are made manifest."

How sweet is sympathy in the season of sorrow-how soothing-how does it relieve the heart to find its burdens shared, its cares participated! If it be so with the sympathy of the creature,